Mulch maintenance in run

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Hello all my wonderful chicken people i have mulch all through the run for my 6 chicks. Should I be raking it, turning it, or picking up poop?
thank you kindly

 

[DobieLover]

Hello all my wonderful chicken people i have mulch all through the run for my 6 chicks. Should I be raking it, turning it, or picking up poop?
thank you kindly View attachment 2733583

The chickens typically do a good job of scratching around in it to turn it over. I only rake it out in my run when the holes become trip hazards for me.

 

[3KillerBs]

I also rake my run now and then to fill in the deep holes -- and also to pick up roast bones, paper plates that got buried before I could pick them up (I often collect watermelon rinds, etc. on a used paper plate then pick the plate up the next morning), and such things that aren't likely to compost well.

If the chickens haven't done a good job of turning over the litter in a particular area I will throw a little scratch there to encourage them.

If I notice an odor I might either stir it up or throw some scratch or I might add more litter. If that doesn't solve the problem it's time to change the litter.

 

[neo71665]

X3 only time I rake is when the holes get bad.

 

[aart]

I never rake my run..and just walk around the holes.
I do toss scratch grains on the high spots.

What is on that ramp?

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I never rake my run..and just walk around the holes.
I do toss scratch grains on the high spots.

What is on that ramp?

I had to staple an old beach towel because they were sliding on it. It has rungs, but a little too far apart for the little buddies

 

[aart]

I had to staple an old beach towel because they were sliding on it. It has rungs, but a little too far apart for the little buddies

Double the number of rungs/cleats....
...and raise lower end up on a concrete block(16" tall) to reduce angle.

 

[NatJ]

Should I be raking it, turning it, or picking up poop?

If you enjoy doing those things, go ahead. They won't do any harm.

But as others have said, they are usually not necessary.

The hens keep it mixed & turned, the poop rots among the wood shavings without causing a problem, and the whole thing usually requires very little maintenance. (Maintenance is something like: rake to fill deep holes if they bother you, add more wood chips if it starts looking low or smelling bad, adjust roof/drainage if it floods.)

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I also rake my run now and then to fill in the deep holes -- and also to pick up roast bones, paper plates that got buried before I could pick them up (I often collect watermelon rinds, etc. on a used paper plate then pick the plate up the next morning), and such things that aren't likely to compost well.

If the chickens haven't done a good job of turning over the litter in a particular area I will throw a little scratch there to encourage them.

If I notice an odor I might either stir it up or throw some scratch or I might add more litter. If that doesn't solve the problem it's time to change the litter.

Roast bones?!

 

[3KillerBs]

Roast bones?!

After we've eaten a pork roast or a roast turkey or chicken and I've cut off everything I can get I throw the bones into the chicken run for them to pick clean.

Sometimes I manage to retrieve the bones the next day. Sometimes the bones get buried in the litter and I find them later when I'm raking.